Mounting for artificial teeth



E SW. c H TI Y T mm cm F C G .N I T m 0 M Nov. 23, 1954 Filed Jan. 27, 1953 United States Patent MOUNTING FOR ARTIFICIAL TEETH Charles Cluytens, Antwerp, Belgium Application January 27, 1953, Serial No. 333,502 Claims priority, application Belgium February 1, 1952 11 Claims. (Cl. 32-5) The object of the invention is to provide a substantial improvement in the mounting of artificial teeth, which improvement can be used with any combination or number of teeth. I

More specifically the invention relates to a mounting which enables an artificial tooth or teeth to be easily fixed in position, and removed, thus permitting regular and proper cleaning of the artificial teeth as well as of the mouth and gums. Additional advantages are that the mounting does not make use of hooks, and requires a base plate of small or minimum dimensions, with which a stability hitherto unknown is obtained even if the patient has only one single natural tooth left.

In accordance with the invention there is fixed to the natural tooth or teeth, on that side on which the artificial tooth or teeth is to be placed, a metal crown, generally of gold, which crown is fitted on one or both sides with a lateral projection shaped like a single or double ring; in this ring, or these rings, can be slidden, by simple pressure, one or more interior projections anchored in the artificial tooth or teeth, the arrangement being such that, when the internal projection on the artificial tooth or teeth is pressed completely into the corresponding ring on the crown, a resilient part of the projection springs out behind the bottom edge of the lateral ring as a result of which the artificial tooth (or the series of artificial teeth) is set by the side of the crown in a resilient and easily removable way.

It is advisable to fix the lateral projection or projections on the crown, by welding them, for example.

Other features of the invention are described in the following description having reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate various constructional embodiments but in no way limit the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crown with a side ring.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line IIII of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a double artificial tooth having an internal projection which cooperates with the side ring of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a front view of the crown and side ring according to Figures 1 and 2, with the double artificial tooth of Figure 3 placed in position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line V-V of Figure 4.

Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, front and plan views of a crown having a double ring on one side thereof.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a crown provided on each side with a single ring.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are plan views illustrating some constructional forms in accordance with the invention.

As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the crown 1 has an annular side projection 2. The crown 1 and the ring 2 forms only a single member, which is preferably made of gold or other metal, the crown being cemented in a known manner on to a natural tooth- The double artificial tooth 3 (Figure 3) to be positioned at the side of the crown 1 is provided with a cavity 4, which is designed so that the artificial tooth 3 can be slidden on top of the ring 2.

Depending from the top wall of the cavity 4 is a short tube 5, having an internal thread, the upper part of which is set in the material of the artificial tooth 3.

Into the short tube 5 is screwed a screw 6, in such can slide freely in the ring 2.

2 a way that a split resilient strip 8 disposed between the head 7 of the screw and the lower edge of the tube 5 can move radially without any constraint.

When the mounting of Figure 3 is in position at the side of the crown 1 of Figure 1, and on top of the ring 2, it is only necessary to press the artificial tooth 3 towards the gum in order to set automatically the artificial tooth in position.

in practice, when the short tube 5 slides into the ring 2, the strip 8 yields inwardly, and the tube 5 At the end of its travel the strip 8 expands below the bottom edge of the ring 2 and the artificial tooth is suitably fixed at the side of the crown 1. The artificial tooth can be removed in the same easy and rapid manner, but in the reverse direction; it will be noticed that the inclined side wall 4' of the cavity 4 and the corresponding wall 2' of the ring 2 facilitate the operation.

It is obvious that the screw threaded tube 5, screw 7 and resilient strip 8 may be replaced by any other projecting device, insofar as it is provided with a resilient engaging and disengaging means cooperating with the ring 2.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the use of a double ring 9, instead of the single ring projection. The double ring is for use more particularly with a relatively long series of artificial teeth. Further, there may be provided between the bottom edge of the cavity 4 in the artificial tooth and the top wall of the single lateral ring 2 or double ring 9, a rubber washer 10, or other resilient member adapted to the shape of the lateral ring, and which contributes some flexibility in the fixing of the artificial teeth.

It is possible, starting from these basic parts, to provide different combinations, such for example as a crown provided on both sides with a ring 2 (Figure 8), these combinations being adapted to the cases which arise in practice.

In some cases (Figure 9) a double crown 22 may be made and fixed to two natural teeth, and be attached on each side by a single ring 2, to a group 11 or 12 of artificial teeth. It is obvious that the invention can be used for all the usual work which occurs in dental practice.

Figure 10 shows another embodiment, in which two natural teeth 13, 14 are covered respectively with a crown 15, 16, the crown 15 being made with two rings 9, and the crown 16 with one ring 2, for attaching two groups of artificial teeth 17, 18 respectively.

Figure 11 shows another of the numerous possible combinations, namely a crown 19, provided on the one side with a single ring 2 and on the other side with a double ring 9, for fixing respectively an artificial tooth 20 and a group of artificial teeth 21.

What I claim is:

1. A device for mounting an artificial tooth unit in the mouth comprising a crown or like member adapted to be permanently mounted on a natural tooth, an annular projection on the side of said member, a pin-like projection on said artificial tooth unit adjacent to said natural tooth, said pin-like projection being adapted for sliding engagement in said annular projection, a resilient member mounted on said pin-like projection so as to be compressed inwardly during said sliding movement and to expand outwardly on the completion of said sliding movement in order to butt against the end of said annular projection, so as to form a resilient retaining means for holding said artificial tooth unit in position until it is required to remove it.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which said pinlike projection comprises a tube having a screw screwed therein, and in which said resilient member comprises a ring disposed between the head of the screw and the adjacent end of said tube, the arrangement being such that when said pin-like projection is completely engaged in said annular projection said resilient ring bears against the adjacent end of said annular projection so as to prevent accidental withdrawal of said tooth unit.

3. A device according to claim 1 in which said artificial tooth unit is formed with a cavity on the side adja cent the natural tooth on which it is to be mounted, said pin-like extension being set" in the material of the artificial tooth unit and depending--from the-top wall -of--saidcavity.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which said annular projection is madefintegralawith'said crown or like member.

5. A device according. to claim 1 in which said annular projection is formed as a single ring on one side of said crown or-like member.

6. A device according to claim. 1 in which said annular projection .comprises two' rings on the same side of said crown or like member;

7. A device according to claim 1 in which two annular projections'each comprising a single ring are provided on said crown or like member, said single rings being fixed respectivelyon opposite sides of said member.

8. A device according to 'claim 1 in which said annular projection is'duplicated -.on the opposite side of said crown or like member, each of said annular projections comprising ;,two rings 9. A device according .toclaim 1 in which said annular projection. comprises 'a single. ring, and further comprising a secondannular projection on the opposite 4/. side of said crown or like member, said second annular projection comprising tworings.

10. A device according to claim 1 in which the wall of said annular projection -is inclined relatively to the longitudinal axis of its bore in order to facilitate the fixing and removal of said artificial tooth unit to and from said crown or like member- 11. A device according to claim 1 in which said artificial toothunit is formed with a cavity on the side adjacent tothe natural toothon which it is to be mounted, said pin-like extension'being set'in the material of said artificial 1tooth unit and depending. from the top wall of said cavity, and further comprising a strip of resilient material disposed; when .the mounting is efifected, between the top wall of said cavity and the top edge of said annular projection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 744,291 Carr Nov. 17, 1903 1,465,379 Supplee Aug. 21, 1923 

